This episode explores the unexpected connection between the War on Drugs and the abundance of Peruvian blueberries in American grocery stores. Against the backdrop of the 1970s and 80s cocaine epidemic, the U.S. implemented the Andean strategy, involving military intervention and aid to eradicate coca crops in Peru. More significantly, the strategy incorporated "aid for trade," offering economic incentives for farmers to switch to alternative crops. For instance, the initial focus was on asparagus, which flourished due to a combination of American investment and Peruvian economic reforms, leading to a significant increase in asparagus consumption in the U.S. However, increased competition later forced Peruvian farmers to seek new export opportunities. This led to the cultivation and export of blueberries, particularly the Biloxi variety, which proved highly adaptable to the Peruvian climate and consistent in quality, satisfying American consumer demand. The success story of Peruvian blueberries highlights the complex and often unintended consequences of large-scale economic interventions, demonstrating how a drug eradication program inadvertently shaped global agricultural trade and consumer habits. What this means for future trade policies is a need to consider the long-term, multifaceted impacts of such initiatives.
